Containment Ring for an Arrow Rest

ABSTRACT

A containment ring for use with an arrow rest is provided that includes an angled opening for selectively retaining an arrow shaft in close proximity to the arrow rest. More specifically, a containment ring is described for operable interconnection to a bow that includes an angled opening that requires an arrow to be oriented at a given angle to allow passage into the ring into a containment area. The angle of the opening in the containment ring substantially prevents removal of the arrow from the containment ring unless the arrow is positioned at the proper angle.

This patent application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,635 to Evans, issued Mar. 20, 2001, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to archery. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is a containment ring used in conjunction with an arrow rest that contains an arrow if it inadvertently falls away from the arrow rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Arrow rests are commonly used to maintain the position of an arrow with respect to a bow prior to flight. In the past, with reference to traditional bows that employed a riser (i.e. a hand hold) with two limbs extending therefrom, the arrow would rest upon a shelf provided by the riser prior to release. When the arrow was released, the fletching, which was generally comprised of feathers, would contact the bow riser and/or shelf which would result in inaccuracy. That is, the shelf of the prior art did not provide a stable platform which avoided contact with the arrow after release from the string. Thus, for years, archery enthusiasts have been using arrow rests that support the shaft of the arrow above the shelf of the bow. These arrow rests may comprise a “prong” type rest that employs adjustable spring tension or a “fall away” rest that is interconnected with a cord or other mechanism to bow buss cables. When the bow string is drawn, the arrow rest rises to a predetermined elevation. When the string is released, the arrow rest falls away and thus prevents any contact between the arrow fletching and the arrow rest. One example of a fall-away rest is U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,635 to Evans (“Evans”) that generally employs a fork that is rotatably associated with the bow. In order to ensure that the rest falls away from the arrow, a spring is often associated with the arrow rest mechanism to facilitate rapid rotation of the fork away from the loose arrow after the archer releases the string.

One drawback of certain arrow rests is that they can be unstable and allow the arrow to be inadvertently separated therefrom. For example, a hunter will often keep an arrow interconnected to the bow string and positioned on the arrow rest such that if prey is sighted the bow string can be quickly pulled back, thereby orienting the arrow in its proper location prior to release. However, since hunters are usually in thick brush or trees, the arrow is commonly knocked from the rest, which is frustrating, causes noise, and which takes time to reload the arrow onto the arrow rest. Additionally, misaligned nocks on the arrows, improper fit between the nock and string and other problems can result in the arrow becoming disengaged or falling from the arrow rest. To alleviate this problem, a containment ring is provided that ensures that the arrow will stay adjacent to the arrow rest, and potentially reseat thereon, if the arrow is inadvertently disengaged from the arrow rest.

One type of arrow rest which attempts to solve this problem is a “whisker biscuit” which is manufactured by Carolina Archery. The whisker biscuit comprises a circular ring with a plurality of whiskers made of nylon or other flexible materials. The whiskers possess a length that defines an inner diameter that allows for easy insertion of the arrow onto the arrow rest. In operation, the whiskers provide some stability to the arrow while allowing the fletching to pass therethrough. However, the whisker biscuit whiskers inherently contact the fletching of the arrow during light, which reduces arrow speed and may affect arrow fight and accuracy.

Other arrow rests include a non-continuous ring having a slot integrated therethrough such that an arrow is placed through the slot and onto the arrow rest. These types of arrow rests may also include a plurality of whiskers emanating from the inner diameter of the ring to aid in locating the arrow if it should fall off the arrow rest. Arrow rests and containment rings of this type have the drawback of having flexible whiskers that may impede the flight of the arrow even though such whiskers are often touted as being non-disruptive to flight. That is, one skilled in the art will appreciate that anything that touches the arrow during flight may be detrimental and frustrating.

Other forms of containment systems utilize moving bars or other components that must be manually positioned and placed upon the arrow or activated when the bow string is drawn. These types of devices are also problematic due to the addition of additional moving parts, added weight to the bow assembly and potential noise due to the moving parts.

Thus there is a long felt need in the art of archery to provide a containment ring that ensures that an arrow that inadvertently falls from the arrow rest remains in close proximity to the rest, while not impeding the flight of the arrow, and is simplistic to insert and remove the arrow from the rest. Embodiments of the present invention, presented below, provide an apparatus for containing an arrow that is easy to use, durable and contains no parts that would interrupt the flight of an arrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus one aspect of the present invention to provide an arrow rest that places an arrow in a predetermined orientation prior to releasing the arrow. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention generally employ a fork or “u” shaped arrow rest having a soft arrow engagement surface to help reduce noise. The arrow rest is rotatably interconnected to a boss or cylinder that is interconnected to the bow riser with a bracket or other attachment hardware in a generally perpendicular relationship. The arrow rest is positioned vertically via a cord that is interconnected to a buss cable that extends from the limbs of the bow. This assemblage is associated with various adjustable members that are interconnected to the bow, thereby allowing the archer to selectively adjust the orientation and location of the arrow rest. In operation, as the archer pulls the bow string, the cord becomes taut and pulls a tab that is interconnected to the arrow rest. As the tab is pulled, it rotates about a launch sleeve assembly until it stops at a predetermined location. Prior to pulling the bow string, an arrow would be placed on the arrow rest such that when the arrow rest is rotated into its second position of use, i.e. ready to release the arrow, the arrow would be placed in the proper upward orientation relative to the bow. Upon release of the bow string, the arrow rest cord is released, thereby allowing the arrow rest to fall away from the arrow to provide an interference free path for the arrow to travel towards its intended target.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a containment ring that helps maintain the arrow adjacent to the arrow rest. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention employ an arrow rest having a gap or “slot” with a predetermined orientation that allows for an arrow to be placed on the arrow rest. If the arrow should fall from the arrow rest, it is captured within the containment ring and not allowed to fall away from the bow. In order to ensure that the arrow remains within the containment ring, a specific system is provided to allow ingress and egress into and from the containing area only when the arrow is oriented at a specific angle.

More specifically, embodiments of the present invention include an angled opening that allows for the arrow to be easily placed within the containing area and onto the arrow rest, but prevents easy removal. Upon review of the figures described in the detailed description below, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the arrow must be placed within the containment ring at an angle that is not conducive to arrow flight. Thereafter, the arrow is reoriented into a generally horizontal orientation. Thus, if the arrow should fall off the arrow rest, it would be substantially impossible for it to be removed from the opening of the containment ring since the angle of the opening and the angle of the shaft of the arrow are substantially different when the arrow is nocked to the string. In order to remove the arrow from the containment ring, one would have to remove the nock of the arrow from the bow string and tilt it up, for example, to allow the arrow to be transitioned through the opening of the containment ring.

Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, a containment ring adapted for sue with an arrow rest is provided, comprising:

an enclosure interconnected to at least one of an arrow rest bracket assembly and said riser positioned proximate to the arrow rest;

a slot extending through said enclosure at a predetermined angle which is operably sized to receive a shaft of an arrow, wherein said arrow shaft is substantially impeded from extending outside of the perimeter of said containment ring while the arrow is interconnected to a string on the bow and positioned generally horizontally.

The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a containment ring of one embodiment of the present invention interconnected to an assembly for interconnection to a bow, wherein the arrow rest is positioned prior to releasing an arrow;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the containment ring shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear exploded perspective view of the containment ring and associated assembly of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is left elevation view of the containment ring shown interconnected to a bow with an arrow positioned therein.

To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a containment ring 2 is shown interconnected to an arrow rest assembly for interconnection to a riser of a bow 4. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention employ a system similar to that disclosed in Evans wherein a body 6 having an attachment slot 10 is provided. The attachment slot 10 receives a fastener for interconnection to the bow. The body 6 is also interconnected to an attachment block 14 via at least one bolt 16. The attachment block 14 is also interconnected to an adjustment block 18. The adjustment block 18, which also provides location for interconnection of the containment ring 2, allows the arrow rest and containment ring 2 to be transitioned away from or closer to the bow for adjustment purposes to allow proper alignment of the arrow with the string, thus optimizing accuracy. Embodiments of the present invention employ an attachment block 14 having at least three threaded apertures 20 for interconnection to a bolt 22 that is threaded through a slot 24 on the adjustment block. In order to position the containment ring 2 in a predetermined location, this bolt 22 is loosened, thereby allowing the adjustment block 18 to move in relation to the attachment block 14. A number of indication marks 26 are also provided on the adjustment block 18 and the attachment block 14 to help the archer position the arrow rest 46 and containment ring 2. The adjustment block 18 also provides a location for interconnection of a launch sleeve assembly 30 that is used as a platform to which an arrow rest 34 is interconnected. The rotation of the launch sleeve assembly 30 may be facilitated by a spring 36. The arrow rest 34 includes a tab 38 that provides a location for interconnection of a cord 42 and may include a soft arrow engagement surface 46. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any shape or type of arrow rest 34 may be in use in conjunction with the containment ring 2 as described herein. That is, the containment ring design of the present invention may be integral to, and used in combination with a prong type arrow rest, plunger type rest, fall away rest, or used independently with any of these types of rests.

The containment ring 2 is generally comprised of a circular member having one or more apertures 50 integrated therein to reduce weight. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the containment ring 2 may be of any shape as long as it maintains an arrow in a predetermined location if it falls from the arrow rest 34. As is succinctly shown in the figures, the containment ring 2 includes an opening 54 that is angled with respect to horizontal. Preferably, this angle (α) slopes upwardly when viewed from the left side, i.e. arrow side, of the bow. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the slot or opening may be angled in the opposite direction, or may be positioned on an upper portion of the containment ring.

Further, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention the opening 54 may include a resilient material such as nylon whiskers, a flap or other device that allows ingress of the arrow into the containment ring 2, but further impedes the arrow from traveling through the opening 54.

As shown in FIG. 4, in operation an archer places an arrow upon the arrow rest 34, which is laying flat or generally horizontal. In order to achieve this, the arrow 56 cannot be simply slipped horizontally into the containment ring 2. Rather, the rear end of the arrow must be tilted upwardly, thereby placing the arrow 56 in a downward orientation for ingress into the containment ring 2. Thereafter, the nock end of the arrow is placed in the proper location on the bow string. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, bow strings typically include a specific marker, or nock point, that lets the archer know exactly where to place the nock end of the arrow on the string. By placing the arrow at this ideal location, the arrow will be positioned generally perpendicular to the vertical orientation of the string and bow riser. Upon pulling of the bow string, the cord 42 will rotate the arrow rest 34 to an upright position, thereby lifting the arrow 56 to a predetermined height. If the arrow 56 should fall from the arrow rest 34, it will remain within the containment ring 2 since the arrow must be positioned at the angle (α) to traverse through the opening 54 of the containment ring 2, which is impossible to achieve unless the archer removes the nock from the bow string. Thus a system is provided wherein the arrow is easily inserted through the containment ring 2 onto the arrow rest 34 without having to use a complicated system of whiskers or mechanical devices as described above, and which may alter the trajectory of the arrow. Furthermore, the containment ring 2 assures that the arrow will remain in close proximity to the arrow rest until the string is released or the arrow intentionally removed from the string.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the containment ring of embodiments of the present invention may be formed of any material. Preferably, embodiments of the present invention are constructed of metal such as stainless steel. Many different surface finishes may also be employed onto the containment ring that is presented herein, such as camouflage, gunmetal gray, olive drab green, etc., or rubber or fleece material to eliminate any unwanted noise if the shaft of the arrow contacts the containment ring.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A containment ring adapted to retain an arrow shaft in close proximity to an arrow rest operably interconnected to a bracket assembly mounted on a riser of a bow, comprising: an upper portion operably interconnected on a first end to the bracket assembly, and having a second end extending outwardly from the riser and including a leading edge oriented at a substantially obtuse angle with respect to a horizontal plane; a lower portion having a first end operably interconnected to said upper portion and a second end extending upwardly with a leading edge positioned in opposing relationship to and substantially parallel to said leading edge of said upper portion, wherein an angled slot is defined to receive a shaft of an arrow and which substantially impedes the arrow shaft from inadvertently moving outside the confines of the containment ring while the arrow shaft is interconnected to a string on the bow.
 2. The containment ring of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the containment ring comprises a cut-out portion to reduce the overall weight of the containment ring.
 3. The containment ring of claim 1, wherein the angled slot has a forward end positioned at a height lower than the rearward end.
 4. The containment ring of claim 1, wherein the angled slot has a width no greater than about one inch.
 5. The containment ring of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bristles positioned within said angled slot to further impeded the inadvertent movement of the arrow shaft outside of the containment ring.
 6. The containment ring of claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the lower portion of the leading edge of said upper portion.
 7. The containment ring of claim 1, wherein said containment ring is comprised of at least one of a metal, a fiberglass, a plastic and a ceramic material.
 8. A containment ring adapted for use with an arrow rest interconnected to a riser of a bow, comprising: an enclosure interconnected to at least one of an arrow rest bracket assembly and said riser positioned proximate to the arrow rest; a slot extending through said enclosure at a predetermined angle which is operably sized to receive a shaft of an arrow, wherein said arrow shaft is substantially impeded from extending outside of the perimeter of said containment ring while the arrow is interconnected to a string on the bow and positioned generally horizontally.
 9. The containment ring of claim 8, wherein said slot is oriented at a predetermined angle.
 10. The containment ring of claim 8, further comprising at least one of a bristle material or a flap interconnected proximate to said slot to further impede the removal of the arrow.
 11. An arrow containment ring adapted for use with an arrow rest operably interconnected to a riser of a bow, comprising: a non-continuous ring operably interconnected to at least one of the riser and said arrow rest and positioned proximate to the arrow rest, said non-continuous ring having a leading edge and a trailing edge; an angled slot operably sized to receive an arrow shaft and extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge and inclined at a distinct angle with respect to a vertical axis, wherein an arrow shaft is substantially impeded from removal from said confinement ring if a nock on said arrow shaft is operably engaged to the string on the bow.
 12. The arrow containment ring or claim 11, wherein said angled slot is positioned on an uppermost portion of said non-continuous ring. 